Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani (R) attends a joint press conference with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Doha, capital of Qatar, on Feb. 11, 2019. Qatar and France signed on Monday a strategic dialogue agreement in political, economic, investment, defense, agricultural, educational and terror combat domains. (Xinhua/Nikku)
DOHA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Qatar and France signed on Monday a strategic dialogue agreement in political, economic, investment, defense, agricultural, educational and terror combat domains.
Qatar's Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian signed the agreement after a joint meeting in Doha.
In a statement, the Qatari foreign minister said the two sides discussed the Gulf crisis and means to solve it.
The French top diplomat said his country backs Qatar and calls for a solution to the crisis through dialogue.
"Differences among countries need to be solved through dialogue," said Le Drian, adding "peoples should not pay the price for such mishaps."
"The dialogue between Qatar and France will also seek to solve the Libyan and Syrian problems," according to the French minister.
Le Drian said the French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe will visit Qatar on March 27.
Earlier in the day, the French minister met Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and congratulated him on the winning of Asian Cup on behalf of the French President Emmanuel Macron.
"We will assist Qatar in the organization of World Cup 2022 as we did in Asian Cup 2006," he said.
